Multiple witnesses told New Times yesterday that police were at the Word Center church and the surrounding church-owned properties -- where the church helps house people -- around Third Street and Southern Avenue, around 4 a.m. on Monday.

People who were there say police told them they were looking for a burglary suspect, as Morrison was handcuffed, taken to the ground, and tossed against a police car, according to witnesses -- before being released with no ticket or any citation, and dumped on the side of the road in front of the church, as officers took off.

Morrison, who suffered a stroke at some time during the incident, wasn't able to relay all the details yesterday, as hospital staff at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center cut off interviews with Morrison due to his rising blood pressure, and general concern for his health.

While this story was corroborated by multiple witnesses, police e-mailed us this statement:

"It has always been the policy of the Phoenix Police Department to welcome the community to report any allegations of officer misconduct; we take all complaints seriously. Although allegations have been made to the media, none of these were brought to the attention of the Phoenix Police Department. Nonetheless, based on information received late yesterday the department is looking into this incident. Attempts have been made to speak with Mr. Morrison however he has declined to speak with us. We have learned our officers came into brief contact with Mr. Morrison in the early morning hours of Monday August 26th during an unrelated incident. We will continue to review the facts as information is received and we encourage open and honest communications with the community we protect and serve."

It seems like the folks back at the station ought to know what the officers on the streets are doing, and it seems like the type of incident that should require a report (which has been requested).

Our poll this morning: Should police explain this incident immediately?

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Very dis-tasteful display of police brutality ...........who knows maybe it WAS racially motivated ........................That aside ....they beat the shit out of him .........then left him for DEAD Guilty till proven innocent EH? What if it was someone in YOUR family? PPD needs to answer for this and meantime suspend those involved ...without Pay till they are cleared of any laws broken in court.

Standard procedure in most civilised jurisdictions.
You don't know the circumstances of any individual case any more than anyone accept those involved. The reason to suspend on full pay is that police who injure suspects *may* have done so in self defense against a violent suspect, they may have caused an injury accidentally while restraining a suspect resisting arrest, or they may have used unncessary brutality - or a combination of those things; whatever way you slice it, officers who cause injury or death must be removed from duty immediately pending an investigation. For any police officer that is found to have done nothing improper it is not right to leave them with no income while they are in the process of clearing their name. For those who are found to have been either negligent or violent, they must be immediately dismissed from the force and charged for any applicable criminal offense.
Bottom line: you cannot penalize a police officer for brutality until it is proven, and you must get any them off duty immediately every time this sort of thing happens to make sure no other member of the public is put at risk from potentially violent bad cops. This is why any investigation should be swift and comprehensive.
This is the way it's done in Europe. And, while the police are perfect no where, police in Europe are not known for their brutality. Possibly because such suspensions get a lot of media attention and the investigations often find against the officer(s) - leaving them ruined.

Unless I am busy doing something else and can't take the time to stop, I stop and record cops every chance I get - the more they see cameras, the more they will expect them even when they are not there and hopefully, that will help keep out of control cops in line.

@robert_graham we do when that black person or white person are cops. why dont you try a better example twit . and we do want answers in either case, its you who is always claiming its justified, not us. or do you forget comments of yours like "the black panthers did it so why cant we?"

@robert_graham race has nothing to do with this ass hat. wouldnt matter if the guy was fucking green, if the police beat the shit out of him and put him in the hospital, yet didnt charge him with a crime (IE no PC in the first place) then they HAVE to answer to us. no ifs, ands, or buts about it

@robert_graham you are the only one race baiting, you and the rest that try and deny racism exists even as you make racist comments routinely. I suppose its just to delude yourselves into thinking its ok full well knowing just how morally corrupt, and ignorant you idiots act. I have to say though, i love this attitude "well what about..."...lol you sound like 5 year olds kicking and screaming in the sand box cause someone just took your binky.

@david_saint01@robert_graham Of course it has everything to do with it. But now that you mention it, race had nothing to do with the Zimmerman case but it certainly was made out to be racial. Not once was it every revealed that Zimmerman was a racist -- never!

Biggest liar on this site next to JAFfy/Robert Graham, calls me a liar (psst... that's you YPS in case you are having trouble comprehending - oh, www.websters.com so you can look up what that big word means)

@robert_graham@david_saint01 lol yea, he didnt stereotype a kid based on his skin color (listen to the 9-1-1 call, he clearly says he thinks hes black and "suspicious"). I for one never said he was racist, but he did stereotype him..therefore race did indeed play a role in the whole deal. That analysis though requires a certain level of brain power, which doesnt surprise me you are incapable of.